The president attended the Miami-hosted championship as Indiana beat the Hurricanes, finishing undefeated.
President Donald Trump attended the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami alongside his daughter Ivanka and four of his grandchildren on Jan. 19.
During the national anthem at the Hard Rock Stadium, where the game was held, Trump and his family members appeared on the big screens, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Kai Trump, daughter of the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., was at the game and appeared to have a cast on her left arm. She is set to attend the University of Miami and play on its golf team.
The Indiana University Hoosiers faced off against the University of Miami Hurricanes in the national championship. Trump congratulated both teams in a message released before the game started.
“Melania and I congratulate the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes on making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship,” the president said.
“God bless the talented players and dedicated coaches, the families who love and support them, and the faithful fans who cheer them on. May the best team win!”
Indiana completed an undefeated season with a 27–21 victory over Miami in the College Football Playoff final, earning its first national title.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun took to social media to congratulate the Hoosiers on their victory, praising the team for their grit and determination throughout the season.
“Congratulations to @IndianaFootball on an unforgettable season culminating in an incredible national championship win,” Braun said on X. “This team showed grit, discipline, and heart all season and tonight, they delivered for Hoosiers everywhere. GO HOOSIERS!”
Monday’s college football game was the 12th game that Trump attended as president, president-elect, or presidential nominee. The last one he attended was between the United States Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy in Baltimore last month. Trump has a history of attending football games and other professional sporting events, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Trump also attended the 2018 game between the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia, and the 2020 contest between Clemson University and Louisiana State University.
Indiana is undefeated, while Miami is 13–2. Indiana would be only the third team in NCAA history to go 16–0, following Yale in 1894 and the Football Championship Subdivision’s North Dakota State in 2019.
Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti, who has led the team since 2024 and turned around a struggling program, does not want the team to be content with its success so far. This includes Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza winning the Heisman Trophy, the highest award given to the best player in college football.
“I think it’s time to sharpen the saw now, throw those warm fuzzies out the door, that sentimentalism,” Cignetti said. “It’s time to go play a game against a great opponent.”
The cheapest ticket prices reached $3,194 on Gametime.
Braun and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a bet ahead of the game.
“Hey @GovRonDeSantis, how about a friendly wager on the national championship?” Braun posted on X.
“If [Indiana University] loses, I’ll send you some pork from [Fischer Farms], which is in my neck of the woods in Dubois County, plus some pies from the famous [Wicks Pies], including a sugar cream pie (an Indiana favorite). Pork and pie for bragging rights. You in?”
“Mike—I am happy to oblige and am impressed with [Indiana University’s] turnaround (thanks in part to a Miami kid at QB). But I am all-in for The U,” DeSantis replied.
“If Indiana wins, I’ll send stone crabs and key lime pie from [Joe’s Stone Crab]. I will just drop them off in Naples or Marco Island since that’s basically Indiana south this time of year.”
The game aired at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
